Beam or girder.



THOMAS GUNSTONE HILL, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

BEAM OR GIRDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .l'uly 2, 1907.

Application filed March 19, 1906. Serial 3 1 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS GUNsToNn HILL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State ofOregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Metallic Beams orGirders, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in the con struction of metallicbeams or girders composed of two or more sections or parts.

The object of my invention is to provide in such metallic beams orgirders a new and more secure and permanent joint for the differentsections or parts intended to comprise one beam, when so joined.

I attain these objects and other practical advantages by theconstruction, combination and arrangementiof parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which form a part of these sepcifications.

It is well known that a perfectly satisfactory jointed beam has not beenplaced upon the market for bridges, buildings and other structures wherestrong beams or girders of great lengths are required. I claim that thebeam I have devised supplies this need.

In the drawings Figure l is a section of the girderon the line BB of theview in Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a section on the line AA oi the same view.Fig. 3 is a side view of the girder showing end joints with part insection.

Like numerals and letters refer to like parts in the figures.

In Fig. 1 is seen a girder composed of two oppositely disposed members88, each of which is suitably formed of sheet metal as shown, and thejoints at the center E are made by the lap of one side of each memberover the adjacent side of the other longitudinally throughout each, andthese joints are properly welded so that the exterior of the side of thegirder shall form a plane surface. Separating bolts l111 are providedfor each member in suitable numbers on either sideof said joint, thefunctions of these bolts being to retain the sides of the girder at theproper distance apart and to secure them from spreading outwardly InFig. 2 the same construction of girder is shown as in Fig. l but alsowith the straps or yokes 7-7 adapted to be placed around the outside ofthe joint F Fig. 3 between ends of the sections of the girdersconstructed as described. These straps 77 are also shown in the sideview Fig. 3 and are securely brazed to the girders around the plainjoints F formed by the adjacent ends of the girder sections when placedend to end. In this manner two or more sections of my girders are joinedtogether to form a single girder of such length as may be desired in anystructure. It will further be seen that I increase the structuralstrength of my girders by having the outer ends of the members 88 Fig.1, 2, where the sheet metal is bent to the curvature, of thickerdimension than the remainder. The straps 77 are likewise of greaterthickness at their curved ends for the same reason.

Thus it will be seen that with sections of girders constructed, arrangedand joined in the manner I have indicated that girders may bemanufactured in sections of any convenient lengths for shipping and uponarrival at the place of use, the sections may then be joined and astrong and durable girder of any desired length made near the structureinto which it is to be placed.

I claim:

A structural metal beam or girder composed of two or more sections, eachof which is formed of oppositely dis posed U-shaped members of sheetmetal thicker at the curved sides and longitudinally joined by weldingso as to form an integral girder with plane side surfaces, the sectionsbeing; provided with a suitable number of separating' bolts 11l1 oneither side of said joint and said sections being joined together attheir ends by U-shaped straps 77 thicker at the curved ends, the samebeing securely brazed over the plane section end joint, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS GUNSTONE HILL.

Witnesses Jo. NEWSTUDY, HENRY Scnomv.

